Teachers Rock!

"Hey, your teacher sent you a postcard in the mail," I say, handing Vinny the note.

Vinny read the message.

Then he smiled and said, "That's really nice."

I could tell it meant a lot to Vinny by the look on his face. And as a parent, that means the world to me.

Lady Gaga You and I VMA

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Lady Gaga

First of all, I have to say the soulful, "You and I," is ONE of my favorite songs on Lady Gaga's album. There are actually many good songs on Lady Gaga's new cd that are great. Too bad I haven't been able to listen to them because I still can't find my MP3 player.

By the way, have you seen it? It kind of looks like this except it's black and a lot smaller.

It's so small, in fact, that I can't locate it. Ah!

Okay, now onto Lady Gaga's MTV Video Music Awards performance. Well, all I can say is I feel like I must see her theatrics in person.

By the way, Hubby, it's going to have to be tenth row or better.

As I watched Lady Gaga's VMA performance, I didn't realize it was, well, Lady Gaga.

I was even thinking, "that's totally a chick dressed as a guy."

The Wo/Man is androgynous, I'll give her that. When she's dressed as a chick, she kind of looks like a dude. But when she's dressed as a dude, she seems like a chick. Way to mess with every one's mind, Gaga.

The perplexed looks on all the music big twigs faces were priceless. Lady Gaga had the entire music industry asking themselves, "WTF?" Haha!

Obviously, Lady Gaga has an immense sense of humor. Lady Gaga might even be a genius playing up to the Internet rumors that question whether she is a he, or a she.

Brilliant!

Lastly, I have a message for the Justin Bieber.

"Yo Bieber! You really need to stop stealing your Grandma's glasses, dude. That's just wrong."

Family Game Night!

Part of Gio's homework this week is to play a game with someone in the family.

This is my kind of homework, Internet!

Though it's not all fun and games. Gio actually has to answer some questions regarding the game, such as, "What was hard about playing the game."

Oh, oh pick me! I can answer that question.

"How about if we change the rules?" asks Gio. "So I can play 6 marbles at once."

How about we don't.

Then when I won a game by getting five marbles in a row Gio says, "We should make it six."

I don't think so buddy. Just because you're my kid doesn't mean I'm going to let you win.

Good thing he does his own homework.

Bag Lady

Photo by Belinda Jasmine

Sugarland 8/26 Shoreline Amphitheater

Kristian Bush accompanied Vonda Shepard on a couple of songs.


"We just saw Sugarland in July," complains Hubby. "Why are we going again?"

"Honey, besides new surfboards and wetsuits and lots of crazy, wild, zombie love, what do I ask for?" I point out.

"Oh, okay," agrees Hubby.

I felt a little bad dragging him to another Sugarland concert. But I really wanted to see Sugarland up close. There's no point in going to anymore Sugarland concerts if I can't see Jennifer Nettle's theatrical facial expressions with my own eyes. I'd be missing half the show.

But when we got to our seats he changed his song.

"Woah!" says Hubby. "This is AWESOME!"

Phew.

Now on to the concert. First of all, Shoreline Amphitheater is the best venue I have ever been to. Each row from the stage steps up a level, so even if the person in front of me is taller, I can still see.

"On my way to the bathroom, I saw a seven and half feet tall guy!" says Hubby.

"Really?" I say.

I hope he's not sitting in front of me, the steps aren't that high.

Second, the show opener, Vonda Shepard, is one of my all time favorite singers. Internet, you may remember her from the groundbreaking show, Ally McBeal, where characters often thought and acted out in song. I was fairly obsessed with the show. My dog's name is Ally McDog. By the way, never ever name a pet after a neurotic fictional character.

Anyways, seeing her live was amazing, and especially being with The Huz because so many of her songs remind me of him.



I'm sure I was the only person crying in the audience listening to her songs, and maybe one of the only person who knew who she was.

"So have you figured out who that is on the stage?" asks the woman seated next to us.

"Yeah, she did practically all the music on Ally McBeal," I say. "I have all her cd's. I love her!"

"Oh right, Ally McBeal, the show with the unisex bathrooms," says the woman seated next to us.



At one point, during Vonda Shepard's performance, I shout, "Oh my gosh there's Jennifer Nettles!"

"That's not Jennifer Nettles, that's an old woman," says Hubby.



"Well how old do you think she is?" I ask.

"Fifty-five," answers Hubby.

"Uh, honey we're gonna be 55 before you know it," I say.

"Yeah, and when I'm 55 I'm going to call myself an old man," says Hubby.
Well, leave me out of that party, please.

About five minutes later, the ladies seated next to us say, "There's Jennifer Nettles!"

"No it's not," I say. "But she kind of looks like Suze Orman doesn't she? I think it's her. My friend saw her in San Francisco, so I think she lives around here."

"So you think that's Suze Orman?" ask the ladies.

"Yeah," I say. "Or maybe it's Jennifer Nettle's Mom."

"Totally," agree the ladies.

To be continued...............

Vonda Shepard Opening For Sugarland at Shoreline Amphitheater

Internet, I HEART Vonda Shepard! She is so great! Apparently, Christian Bush does too.

Sugarland 8/26 Shoreline Amphitheater

Internet the free food at the Sugarland concert at Shoreline Amphitheater is great! And it's free, which makes it taste better.

Yum!

The drinks, however, are not free. A Margarita and Fat Tire beer, on tap, is $28 with tip.

Ouch!

Good thing I sold the extra parking pass.

Woot!

Looks like Vonda Shephard, from Ally McBeal, is opening for Sugarland tonight at Shoreline Amphitheater instead of Sara Bareilles.

"Aw, bummer," says Hubby.

"Oooooh, I love Vonda Shepard!" I say. "Yay!"

Sugarland 8/26 Shoreline Amphitheater

Internet, oh em gee! Eeeeeeeeeee!

I'm so excited!

"About what?" asks the Internet.

Tomorrow night, Hubby and I are going to see Sugarland at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. From what I can tell by the Shoreline seating chart, we're in the 8th row center stage, aisle seats.

Wooohooooo!

The tickets include the VIP lounge at Shoreline, that means free food. Well, not exactly, since the tickets weren't free, or cheap, or reasonable for that matter.

Anyways, the tickets came with not one, but two VIP Shoreline parking passes. We only need one, so today I sold one on craigslist.

"So you're selling your Sugarland tickets?" asks Vinny perplexed.

"No, I'm just selling the extra parking pass because we don't need it," I explain.

"Isn't that called ticket scalping?" asks Vinny accusingly.

"How do you even know about about ticket scalping?" I ask.

"I read books," answers Vinny smugly.

Figures.

Angry Birds

"Keep your paws off my pig," warns Luna Mew Kitten.

"Don't worry, I know where to get my own bacon," growls Thena Mew Kitten.

The Music Within

"This is a pretty good movie so far," says Hubby.

"Yeah, but I thought it was a true story about a musician?" I say.

"Well, there's a lot of music in it," notices my Mom.

"The Music Within," is based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, a vocal advocate for people with disabilities. Pimentel played an integral role in the passage of the Americans Disabilities Act, which passed under the President of George Bush, Sr.

Watching the movie, I realized how prejudice people were against folks with disabilities. In one scene, Pimental and his wheelchair bound buddy Art, stricken with cerebral palsy, are refused service in a restaurant under the Ugly Law. Apparently, the two were making the other restaurant patrons uncomfortable.

What the heck? I also find it hard to believe The Americans With Disabilities Act wasn't passed until freaking 1990!

I highly recommend this witty, compassionate, inspiring movie.

Favorite movie quote by Art: "Does this wheelchair make my butt look big?"

References:
1. The Ugly Law

2. Americans Disabilities Act

3. Richard Pimentel

The Help Movie

"Did you go see, "The Help?" I ask.

"Yes," says my friend. "Seeing the movie for me was almost more emotional than reading the book. We had a black maid when I was five. When we went to the movies together, she had to sit in the balcony. I couldn't understand why she couldn't sit with us?"

Finally, the book we've all been waiting for has come to the big screen, and it does not disappoint. I found the "The Help," movie as delightful as the book. But viewers be warned, it's not light fare. Read: bring Kleenex.

"The Help," movie is like a roller coaster rider with the perfect mix of ups and downs. The highs will have audiences roaring with laughter, and the lows will have them sobbing in tears.

Based on the novel, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, the movie does an amazing job transforming the author's words into a visual spectacle.

The Help, set in the south during the civil rights movement of the 60s, is told from the perspective of an aspiring white writer, Skeeter, and two black maids, Minny and Aibileen, who is also a writer.

Skeeter, enlists Minny and Aibileen, as interview subjects for a book exposing the truth of what it's like working for white women in the prejudicial south. Aibileen, being a writer, chooses to write her own side of the story, rather than be interviewed by Skeeter, as the other maids are in the film.

The film depicts how nonsensical racist people are, letting black women raise their own children while banning the maids from sitting on their toilets for fear of them spreading "black" diseases.

While many of the maids share terrible encounters with their white bosses, other maids reveal stories of friendship, compassion and strong bonds with the women they work for, sometimes for most of their lives.

The casting in the movie is absolute perfection. The three main characters play their roles true to the characters in the book . Minny, the feisty black maid, played by Octavia Spencer should win an academy award for her role, just on facial expressions and body language alone.

Viola Davis plays Aibileen. While Aibileen is subdued on the surface, the audience can feel her emotions brewing to a boil underneath her self-controlled demeanor.

Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, is a socially awkward, rebellious, outspoken, non-conforming white woman. Stone's character would have suffered far more repercussions for her actions, than being shunned from her born social group, if she were a black woman.

Visually the film is sweet sugar to the eyes, capturing the 60s era with colorful pastels, big, up, hair-dos, and picture perfect scenes. Juxtaposed to the visual sugar rush, is the assassination of Medger Evers and President Kennedy, in case viewers forget how dangerous a task the women are setting out to accomplish. The film also depicts the ramshackle living conditions of the maids, in stark contrast to the decadence of their white counterparts.

"The Help," gets away with plenty of emotional gut wrenching moments, by interspersing tons of humor that will leave audiences deeply satisfied at the end of the movie, rather than depressed.

"Why do you bring me to these sad movies?" says my Bestie, through tears.

"It's good sad," I say.

Movies that make us feel our feelings, and remember our past, are free therapy in my book. Hopefully, someday stories such as these will help humanity stop practicing hatred based discrimination because of the color of someone's skin or their sexual preferences.

Acrhetypally, "The Help," is the classic story of the victim who rises up against her oppressors saying, "You will keep me down, NO Longer!" Even when that means going against her very own survival instincts.

"The Help," is a story about team work, unity, and unlikely friendships. The three courageous women discover, TOGETHER, is the only way through adversity for the downtrodden, and will leave audiences cheering at the end.

Reading To Kids

"Okay, I'm done reading," I say.

"But you only read one chapter," whines Gio.

"No, I read two," I say defensively. "You can keep reading on your own."

"No, I can't read that!" says Gio. "It's too hard."

"Yes, you can," I say in my best cheerleader voice. "At least give it a try."

After reading on his own for over 20 minutes Gio says, "Okay, I read a whole chapter. Now it's your turn to read to me, again."

Cinemark Cares

"Children under 6 are not allowed in R Rated features after 6pm," reads the Cinemark poster in the movie theater.

Internet, it's good to know Cinemark cares. Cinemark is watching out for adults entertainment pleasures. I know I'd hate to have my violent R rated movie interrupted by my 5 year old, not too mention other people's bad parenting.

"Sorry son," I'd say. "You can't go see 'Final Destination 5,' tonight because it's the 7:00 o'clock showing and you're still five. But wait until you turn 6 and we'll go see all the R rated movies you want, anytime of the day, even after six."

Sugarland's Dedication to Victims of Indy State Fair

Back to School Night

You have to stand far away to see the picture.

"How many hours does back to school night start in?" asks Gio.

"Two hours or so," I say. "I better hurry or I'm going to miss open house."

"It's back to school night, not open house," Gio corrects me.

The rest of the night, I kept calling it open house. And he faithfully corrected me every time he heard me say it wrong.

I'm glad somebody has it all figured out. Because I obviously don't. Poor kid is stuck with me.

But honestly, tonight could be called Open House 1. Then Art Night could be Open House 2. Open House should, in fact, be Open House 3. And Ocean's Night would be Open House 4.

Though, that doesn't sound very creative does it? Which is probably why they cleverly call it, Back To School Night, in the first place. Yeah that's actually a pretty good title.

My only problem with Back To School Night is the next day. Think about it. The teachers had double duty, but still have to be back at the butt crack of dawn the following day. While the kids were put to bed earlier than normal by the babysitter. Well, mine were.

This actually gives the kids an unfair advantage over the teachers. I feel like we're throwing our educators to the wolves. Kind of. Because if anyone knows how to tame little wolverines, it's teachers. But still.

My solution to this problem is simple: Day After Back To School Night Holiday. All in favor of this holiday say, "Aye!" Class, please, remember to raise your hand before speaking, and no blurting.

***Back To School Night has been brought to you by The Committee for the use of Cruel and Unusual Punishment against Teachers .

Pertussis Outbreak California

Yesterday, I received a school email, warning that a student had contracted whooping cough, also known as pertussis.

The email indicated whooping cough is highly contagious, and appears to be a mild cold for the first 7-10 days. After that time the cough worsens, and the person lets out a "whoop" sound when they cough, or they may vomit or choke.


"People get out the buckets and ready the Heimlich!"

And I'm pretty sure one of us already has the makings of whooping cough.

"What's that noise?" asks Hubby.

"It's Luna (Mew Kitten)," I answer. "She's coughing. It just started today."



Here we go, again.

The kids have been vaccinated for whooping cough, but I better check with the pediatrician's office to make sure they're current. And now I'm left wondering, "Am I current on my pertussis vaccination?"

Because when I start typing "pertussis," in my google search bar "pertussis outbreak california," is the second hit that pops up after "pertussis vaccine."

Uh, oh!

"Yeah, that pertussis outbreak has been going on since last year," says Hubby.

Where have I been? Oh, yeah I was a little preoccupied with , , and LICE!

"Do the kids need boosters?" asks Hubby.

"I'm not sure I'll call the doctor's office tomorrow," I say. "It seems the biggest risk is to babies. Anyone who is around an infant should get a pertussis vaccination."

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), kids need 5 doses of the pertussis vaccine by kindergarten age (4-6). Then a booster at age 11. Finally, the CDPH recommends boosters for teens and adults. The CDPH teens and adults are less likely to get booster shots, which is one of the reasons for the rise in pertussis, that and people who forgo the vaccination altogether.

I Guess I'm going to need a shot. Ouch!

If you or someone you know has a cough and you're wondering, "is it whooping cough?" click here.

And remember, "cover your cough."

Put On A Happy Face

Internet, I just got done laying out the boys' clothes for tomorrow. Someday I will be really smart and have them lay out their own clothes.

The boys emptied their own lunch boxes and loaded up all their own snacks after school. Everything is pretty much ready for tomorrow, except for breakfast. It would be so cool if I could make breakie tonight. That would be AWESOME!

Then I wouldn't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn.

Then Hubby wouldn't think I'm a grump.

Anyways, I guess I better go to bed so I can at least fake it in the morning.

Seeing Eye Dog

"Oh no!" says Hubby. "I don't know where I put my glasses. This is bothersome."

"He, he, he," I laugh.

"Are you laughing?" asks Hubby.

"Yeah, it's kind of a funny word to use," I reply.

I thought the only person still using that word was Winnie The Pooh, and even he abbreviates it to, "Oh bother."

"I'm helpless without my glasses," says Hubby. "Can you help me find them?"

"Well, I don't have my glasses on either," I say.

"I know where your glasses are," says Hubby, pointing to my nightstand. "They're right here!"

Surprisingly, at that moment I had no words.

"Now will you please help me find my glasses?" asks Hubby.

"Okay," I say.

It took me less than a minute to retrace his steps and find his glasses. We all need a little help with the obvious, sometimes. I, on the other hand, need help with finding the un-obvious.

Just a few weeks ago, I begged Hubby to help me find my bluetoof headset I lost somewhere in my car, months ago. I had searched for it twice, emptying my car completely both times.

Ugh.

Hubby of course found my headset in less than five minutes.

"You're amazing!" I say. "Where did you find it?"

"It slipped into the hole where you buckle your seat belt," says Hubby.

All this time I though my car had some sort of black hole. Now, if only he would find my BLACK MP3 PLAYER.

Sugarland Stage Collapse

Warning:graphic video of stage collapse:

Warning:graphic video of stage collapse:


My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this devastating and shocking event. Angel blessings. Goddess speed.

Tragedy struck Sugarland and Sara Bareilles concert goers last night at the Indiana State Fair, leaving 5 dead and 45 injured, some of them in critical condition, as reported in the Los Angeles Times. .

The stage collapsed in high winds estimated at 60mph and higher.

None of the performers were onstage at the time of the collapse. Officials were preparing to move the concert to another venue when the stage collapsed onto seating near the stage.

After the stage collapsed, fans and emergency crew workers worked together to free people trapped under the wreckage.

Sugarland via twitter is asking for prayers:

We are all right. We are praying for our fans, and the people of Indianapolis. We hope you'll join us. They need your strength.

And from Sara Bareilles twitter feed:

I'm still thinking of all those affected from last night's stage collapse. My heart is here in Indiana. :( #prayforIndy

I'm speechless and feel so helpless. Please send love and prayers to Indianapolis tonight. My heart aches for the lives lost. #indyiloveu

References:
1. Los Angeles Times

2. IndyStar

I Melt With You Modern English

I'd like to dedicate this song to the sun. Nudge. Nudge. Wink. Wink.

The Help

Internet, I am so excited! Tonight, I'm going to dinner with my besties. And then we are going to see The Help, which was adapted from the novel of the same title by Kathryn Stockett.

The book was awesome and as usual I'm curious to see how the movie compares to the it. I'm even more THRILLED about seeing my friends. Since I've been out of the surfing loop, I haven't seen much of them lately. I miss them.

Every Breath You Take

Internet since I'm still on the injured non-surfing list, I've had to resort to other methods of exercise.

"Okay, go up and down the stairs five times," I say to myself.

I'm not sure how many times I did the stairs, because I lost count after three, five or six times. Besides, my fitness pal measures calories burned by the number of minutes exerted, not by how many steps I climb.

Twenty minutes up and down the steep steps only burns 163 calories, and that's not enough if I want to eat more than just rabbit food.

So I keep climbing. Thirty minutes burns about 245 calories, which is pretty good. But I figure, "why not go for forty minutes and burn 327 calories?!"

Why not? I will tell you why not. Or maybe I should let my calves tell you.

"Every move you make, every step you take, I keep crying, baby, baby, please," wail The Sore Calves.

Creepy. I feel like my calves are stocking me.

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay

"Guess who's singing this song?" asks Hubby. "And don't look."

"Tracey Chapman?" I guess.

"No," replies Hubby.

"Really?" I ask certain I'm right.

"Nope," says Hubby.

"Beyonce?" I ask.

"No," says Hubby.

"Is she black or white?" I ask.

"White," says Hubby.

"Hmmmmmmm, Fergie?" I ask.

"No," says Hubby totally delighted I'm stumped.

I couldn't think of anymore white girls who sound black, so I guess his new favorite artist. I'm sure he has a little crush on my next guess.

"Have we seen her in concert?" I ask.

"Yep," says Hubby.

"That's Sara Bareilles?!" I ask. "Wow, I'm impressed."

"She's awesome," says Hubby swooning.

See, Internet I told you he has a crush on her. But it's okay because I do, too.

Bareilles's voice is pretty as a bird's in this cover of "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay," originally by Otis Redding. Bareilles may be white, but she's channeling some sweet soul in this video.

In 1967, Redding died only three days after recording the song, in a plane crash, at the tender age of 26. The song went on to become a number 1 hit. Maybe his spirit was aiding Bareilles in some way........

Enjoy :)

References:
1. Otis Redding Wiki

Room For Two

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."


Nadia Dog: "Grrrrrrrrrrrrl!"
Luna Mew Kitten: "What?"



"Looks like a nice warm, EMPTY bed to me."


"Smells warm, too."


"U turn....."


"Don't know why she won't cuddle with me?"

Pure Stoke

Vinny on the 6 foot foamie, stoked!


"I don't like the 8 foot surfboard," complains Vinny. "It's too long, I can't control it."

"Well, if you get a shorter board it's going to be a lot harder to stand up," I say.

"It's okay, I like a challenge," replies Vinny.

Thanks to Sunshine Freestyle and Carmel Surf Lessons!

Foot Massage

Some of us, and by us I mean my kids, are lucky enough to get a bedtime foot massage.

Waves

These days I'll take my waves any way I can get them. Dry. On the sand. Now my liquor, that's an entirely different story.

Surfing With Daddy

It took some serious cash to get Gio on a surfboard In. The. Ocean. And he doesn't take American Express.

Roar!

"It must be that time of the month, again."

Joey

Vinny and his baby kangaroo.

Yes, Athena Mew Kitten is in his shirt.

Come On Eileen Sugarland and Sara Bareilles

This may be one of the funnest cover songs ever! I know I posted a version of Sugarland performing "Come on Eileen," with Sara Bareilles in concert, but this version is better. In fact, it's so good, it's worth another post.

Their fun is infectious. Now, let's dance! Besides, the the twenty and thirty somethings have probably never even heard this song before.

Anti-Bullying Campaign

Real men wear purple.